Georgia throws out some test results

ATLANTA, May 22 (UPI) -- The Georgia superintendent of schools threw out the results of social studies test scores for sixth- and seventh-graders, finding that the tests were flawed.

Superintendent Kathy Cox ruled that eighth-grade math results, which were questioned by school officials, teachers and parents, were in line with findings of other tests, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Up to 80 percent of students failed the social studies test, while 40 percent of eighth-graders flunked math.

The social studies test is less crucial because it doesn't figure into the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind law or affect students' advancement to the next grade. Students who fail math must retake the test or attend summer school and high levels of failure can trigger federal penalties.

Some experts say that disputes about the social studies curriculum left teachers confused about what to cover.

Herb Garrett, executive director of the Georgia School Superintendents Association, told the Journal-Constitution that the state needs to re-evaluate both tests.

"There are a lot of youngsters who didn't meet the standards who are known by their

local systems to be great math students," he said of that test.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International